Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made to be effective as
of the Effective Date (as that term is defined in Section 24 hereof) by and
between The Ohio Casualty Insurance Company (the "Company") and Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx (the "Executive).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to employ the Executive as a Senior
Vice President to act on behalf of the Company, at the compensation
hereinafter described; and
WHEREAS, as a condition for the employment of the Executive, the
Executive has agreed to enter into this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements as
hereinafter provided, the parties hereto agree as follows, each intending to
be legally bound thereby:
Section 1. Employment and Service. The Company hereby employs the
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Executive as a Senior Vice President, and the Executive hereby accepts
employment as such by the Company, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth.
Section 2. Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 hereof, the
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initial term of the Executive's employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be
for a period of thirty-six (36) months, commencing on the Effective Date.
Thereafter, Executive's employment shall have no term and shall be at will
(the initial 36-month term and any at will employment extension thereafter
being referred to as the "Services Period").
Subject to the provisions of Section 12 hereof, either party may notify
the other party in writing of its intention not to continue the employment
relationship created hereunder after the end of the initial 36-month term,
which written notice shall be sent in accordance with the provisions of
Section 15 hereof at least ninety (90) days prior to the last day of the
initial 36-month term.
Section 3. Compensation. The Executive will be entitled to the
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benefits which inure to the senior officers of the Company, as described in
the administrative guidelines of the compensation program for the senior
officers of the Company (the "Guidelines"), a copy of which is attached hereto
as Exhibit A and is incorporated herein by this reference. If, from time to
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time and at any time during the Services Period, the Guidelines are amended,
any and all such amendments shall be binding upon the Executive, as if fully
re-written herein. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Guidelines, the
compensation package for the Executive shall be as follows:
(a) Initial base salary - $240,000 annually.
(b) Annual bonus - (i) Maximum - 75% ($180,000 based on
initial $240,000 salary).
- (ii) Target - 50% ($120,000 based on
initial $240,000 salary).
- (iii) Minimum - 25% ($60,000 based on
initial $240,000 salary).
(c) Long term incentive - The Executive will be eligible
for an annual long-term incentive
grant having an expected value of
80% of the initial base salary
($192,000 initially). The
incentive vehicles will be
established under the Guidelines,
consistent with those provided to
other senior officers of the Company.
(d) - If the employment of the Executive terminates during
the course of an Employment Year (each twelve
consecutive calendar month period beginning on the
Effective Date) for any reason other than Just Cause
termination under Section 12(b) hereof, any Annual
bonus or Long term incentive benefits described above
shall be prorated for such Employment Year (to the
nearest calendar month) and credited to Executive's
account or paid as bonus in accordance with the
foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
payments shall be made under this Section if
Executive's employment terminates for Just Cause
under Section 12(b) hereof.
Section 4. Participation in Employee Benefit Programs. In addition to
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the compensation as provided in Section 3 hereof, the Executive shall be
entitled (a) to participate to the full extent of such Executive's eligibility
in all of the employee and retirement benefit programs listed on Exhibit B,
attached hereto and made a part hereof, as such programs may from time to time
be amended or modified as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
and (b) to such other perquisites as are made available generally to the
senior officers of the Company, a current
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listing of which is contained on Exhibit C, attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
Section 5. Duties. During and throughout the Services Period, the
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Executive shall devote his full working time and efforts to the business and
affairs of the Company and its Affiliates. The Executive shall use his best
efforts to promote the interests of the Company and its Affiliates, and shall
discharge well and faithfully the duties which may be assigned to him from
time to time. During and throughout the Services Period, the Executive shall
not be engaged in any other business activity, whether or not such business
activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage and shall
not compete, directly or indirectly, with the Company and its Affiliates;
provided, however, that such restrictions shall not be construed as preventing
the Executive from investing his personal assets in (a) businesses which do
not compete or do business with the Company and its Affiliates in such manner
or form as will not require any services on the part of the Executive in the
operation or affairs of the businesses in which such investments are made or
(b) stock or corporate securities as described in the second paragraph of
Section 7 hereof; and provided further, however, that, the foregoing not-
withstanding, the Executive may engage in any other business activity with the
prior written consent of the Company, which consent the Company shall not be
under any obligation to give and shall be given in the Company's sole
discretion.
The Executive also may participate in, or serve as a trustee or
director of, civic and/or charitable entities or activities as he may desire,
so long as such activities or service do not interfere with the performance of
his duties hereunder.
Section 6. Certain Definitions. (a) The term "Restricted Competition
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Period" as used in this Agreement shall have the following meaning or
meanings:
(i) With respect to the Non-Competition Covenants in
Section 7 hereof, the "Restricted Competition
Period" for Great American Insurance Company (or
any Affiliate thereof) shall mean the period of
time during any and all Services Period hereunder
and for a period of two (2) years thereafter; and
(ii) With respect to the Non-Competition Covenants
described in Section 7 hereof, with respect to any
property and casualty insurance company (other
than Great American Insurance Company or any
Affiliates thereof), or any other competitor of
Company or its Affiliates, "Restricted Competition
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Period" shall mean the period of time during any
and all Services Period hereunder or for a period
of three (3) years after the Effective Date,
whichever shall be later to occur;
(iii) With respect to the Other Prohibitions set forth
in Section 8 hereof, "Restricted Competition
Period" shall mean the period of time during any
and all Services Period hereunder and for a period
of one (1) year thereafter; or for a period of
three (3) years after the Effective Date,
whichever shall be later to occur; and
(iv) With respect to Confidential Information set forth
in Section 9 hereof, "Restricted Competition
Period" means the entire period of time during
which such information retains its confidential or
proprietary nature.
(b) The term "Affiliates" as used in this Agreement shall
mean any Person which controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with another Person. Control
includes the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract other
than a commercial contract for goods or nonmanagement
services, or otherwise. Control shall be presumed to
exist if any person, directly or indirectly, owns,
controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds
proxies representing, ten per cent or more of the
voting securities of any other person.
(c) "Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, association, limited liability company,
limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated
organization, Lloyd's company, reciprocal insurer, or
any other business organization, or any combination of
the foregoing acting in concert.
Section 7. Non-Competition Covenants. During the applicable
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Restricted Competition Period described in Section 6 above, the Executive
shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company:
(a) directly or indirectly engage in,
(b) assist or have an active interest in (whether as
proprietor, partner, investor, shareholder, officer,
director or any type of principal whatsoever), or
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(c) enter the employment of or act as agent for, or advisor
or consultant to,
any Person including without limitation enterprises involving Persons related
by blood or marriage to the Executive, which is or is about to become,
directly or indirectly, engaged in the business of insurance (whether as an
agent, broker, marketer, underwriter, reinsurer, manager, actuary, director,
officer, employee, consultant or otherwise) in any and/or all of the lines
and/or kinds of coverage, and/or any and all of the related businesses and
services, provided by, or under development by, the Company and its Affiliates
at any time during the Services Period.
The foregoing provisions of this Section 7 are not intended to
prohibit, and shall not prohibit, the Executive from purchasing, for
investment purposes only, any stock or other corporate security which is
listed on a national securities exchange or quoted in any national market
system (except as in this Agreement otherwise provided), so long as such stock
or other corporate security owned by the Executive does not represent more
than one percent (1%) of the market value or voting power of the total stock
or other corporate securities of that class.
Section 8. Other Prohibitions. During the applicable Restricted
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Competition Period described in Section 6 above, the Executive shall not at
any time engage in any of the following activities in a manner which is
inconsistent with his service as a Senior Vice President of the Company,
without the prior written consent of the Company:
(a) request or advise any customer or client of, or any
Person having business dealings with the Company and/or
any of its Affiliates to withdraw, curtail or cancel
such business or business dealings;
(b) disclose to any Person the names of customers or
clients of, or other Persons having dealings with,
the Company and/or any of its Affiliates; or
(c) induce or attempt to influence any other employee of
the Company and/or any of its Affiliates to terminate
employment.
Section 9. Confidential Information. The Executive recognizes and
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acknowledges that the Company's and its Affiliates' trade secrets and
confidential or proprietary information, including without limitation (a)
information of the
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Company and/or its Affiliates concerning its and/or their insurance operations,
customers or prospects, terms and conditions of sale and prices, technical
knowledge relating to customer requirements and knowledge of markets for the
Company's and/or its Affiliates' products, as such trade secrets or information
may exist from time to time, and (b) information of third parties similar to
that described in the foregoing clause (a) of this sentence which has been made
available to the Company and/or its Affiliates pursuant to a business
relationship with such third party, are valuable, special and unique assets of
the Company's and/or its Affiliates' business, access to which and the
knowledge of which are essential to the performance of the duties of the
Executive hereunder. The Executive will not, in whole or in part, disclose
such trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information to any Person for
any reason or purpose whatsoever, nor will the Executive make use of any such
trade secrets or confidential or proprietary information for his own purposes
or for the benefit of any other Person.
Section 10. Scope of Restrictions. If the scope of any restriction
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contained in Sections 6, 7,8 and/or 9 of this Agreement is too broad to permit
enforcement of any such restriction to its fullest extent, then such
restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the
Executive hereby consents and agrees that such scope may be judicially
modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to enforce such restrictions.
Section 11. Injunctive Relief. The Executive hereby acknowledges and
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confirms that any restricted activity of the nature referred to in the
preceding Sections of this Agreement would cause irreparable injury or damage
to the Company and/or its Affiliates, acknowledges and agrees that the
remedies at law of the Company for any breach of any of the Executive's
obligations under this Agreement would be inadequate and agrees that the
Company shall be entitled to institute and prosecute proceedings in a court of
competent jurisdiction to obtain temporary and/or permanent injunctive relief
to enforce any provision hereof, without the necessity of proof of actual
injury or damage.
Section 12. Termination. (a) The employment of the Executive by the
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Company and the Executive's corresponding rights and obligations under
Sections 1 through 8, inclusive, may be terminated by the Executive if the
duties, responsibilities and/or positions and titles of the Executive are
materially altered or materially adversely affected by action of the Company
at any time during the Services Period.
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Upon such termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive
(y) the compensation and benefits set forth in Sections 3 and 4 hereof for the
greater of (i) one year or (ii) the remaining term of the then current
Services Period, and (z) all stock options, if any, then held by Executive
shall remain in force and shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule
then in effect. Additionally upon such termination, the provisions of Section
9 shall survive and shall be enforceable fully as to the Executive for the
applicable Restricted Competition Period.
(b) The employment of the Executive by the Company and the
Executive's corresponding rights and obligations under Sections 1 through 5,
inclusive, may be terminated immediately at any time for just cause by the
Company by giving written notice to the Executive. "Just Cause", for purposes
of this subsection (b), shall mean dishonesty, immoral conduct detrimental to
the Company, fraud, criminal activity and/or gross negligent performance of
job responsibilities.
Upon termination for Just Cause, Executive shall not be
entitled to any stock options, severance or other compensation or benefits
from and after the date of termination, and the provisions of Sections 6
through 9, inclusive, shall survive and shall be enforceable fully as to the
Executive for the applicable Restricted Competition Period.
(c) The employment of the Executive by the Company and the
Executive's corresponding rights and obligations under Sections 1 through 5,
inclusive, may be terminated immediately at any time by the Company for a
reason other than for Just Cause by giving fourteen (14) days prior written
notice to the Executive.
If such termination occurs during the initial 36-month term,
then the only severance or other compensation or benefits to which the
Executive is entitled from and after the date of termination is the
compensation payable to him under (i) Section 3(a) hereof for the balance of
the remaining 36-month term, payable on the normal bi-weekly schedule and (ii)
Section 3(d) hereof.
In addition, all of Executive's stock options shall remain in
force and shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule then in effect,
and he shall also participate in all health insurance, group life insurance,
long-term incentive plans and other employee benefit programs provided by the
Company at the time of such termination, in the same manner and to the same
extent to which the other senior officers of the Company would participate
upon their termination.
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If such termination occurs during the at will employment
extension after the initial 36-month term, then his only severance or other
compensation or benefits from and after the date of termination will be the
compensation payable to him under Section 3(a) hereof for a period of six (6)
months, payable on the normal bi-weekly schedule. Additionally, his stock
options shall remain in force and shall vest in accordance with the vesting
schedule then in effect.
Other than as provided above, upon the occurrence of such
termination, Executive will be entitled to no other compensation or severance
benefits from the Company.
Additionally upon such termination, the provisions of Sections
6 through 9, inclusive, shall survive and shall be enforceable fully as to the
Executive for the applicable Restricted Competition Period.
(d) If the Executive terminates his employment at the end
of the initial term, as provided in Section 2, then the Executive shall not be
entitled to any severance or other compensation or benefits from and after the
date of termination. However, the provisions of Sections 6 through 9,
inclusive, shall survive and shall be enforceable fully as to the Executive
for the applicable Restricted Competition Period.
If the Company terminates the Executive's employment at the end
of the initial term, as provided in Section 2, then the only severance or
other compensation or benefits to which the Executive is entitled from and
after the date of termination will be the compensation payable to him under
Section 3(a) hereof for a period of 6 months, payable on the normal bi-weekly
schedule. Additionally, the provisions of Sections 6 through 9, inclusive,
shall survive and shall be enforceable fully as to the Executive for the
applicable Restricted Competition Period.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section to the
contrary, upon termination of employment under this Section 12(d), Executive's
stock options shall remain in force and shall vest in accordance with the
vesting schedule then in effect.
(e) If the termination of Executive's employment occurs as
a result of his death or disability (as defined herein), Executive (or his
legal representative) shall be entitled to the following severance benefits:
(i) If Executive's death or disability occurs
during the initial 36-month period, he or his
legal representative shall be entitled to
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those benefits described in subparagraph (c) of
this Section 12 (Termination); and
(ii) If such termination occurs after the
expiration of the initial 36-month period,
such compensation and benefits shall be the
same as those described in subparagraph (d)
of this Section 12 (Termination) in the same
manner as if the Company had terminated
Executive's employment at the end of the
initial term; and
(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive
shall be deemed to be "disabled" if he for
any reason, either by sickness or accident,
is unable to perform his duties for Company
on a full-time basis for a period of one
hundred twenty (120) consecutive calendar
days. For purposes hereof, "full-time basis"
shall be deemed to be a situation in which
Executive must perform at least thirty (30)
office hours of service for Company on a
weekly basis.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Section, the compensation payable to the
Executive by the Company in the event of
disability shall be reduced, on a dollar-for-
dollar basis, by the amount of any benefits
paid to the Executive under any of the
Company's disability programs.
(f) If, upon termination of this Agreement for any reason,
the Executive is serving as a Director of the Company or any of its
Affiliates, the Executive shall resign all such directorships effective at the
same time as the termination of his employment. If the appropriate
resignation shall not have been executed and delivered by the Executive to the
Company and/or its Affiliates within seven (7) days after a request therefor,
the President of the Company and the Affiliates is hereby authorized and
directed by the Executive to execute such resignations for and on behalf of
and in the name of the Executive, as his attorney-in-fact for such purpose.
(g) Upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with
the terms hereof, the Executive shall forthwith deliver to the Company all
records, documents, accounts, letters and papers of every type or description
whatsoever within his possession or control relating to the affairs and
business of the Company
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and/or its Affiliates, as well as any other property belonging to any of such
parties.
(h) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, nothing shall be construed or interpreted to the effect that
Executive is surrendering or otherwise forfeiting any benefits that are
otherwise vested or given to him under law; including, without limitation, any
and all 401(k) benefits or any other benefits from a qualified plan; any
health insurance benefits, such as COBRA, any rights to convert life
insurance, or any other benefits available to Executive in the employee and
retirement benefit programs listed on Exhibit B. It is the intent of the
parties, and they do hereby confirm, that severance benefits set forth above
do not replace, in any manner whatsoever, the benefits payable or available to
Executive (or his beneficiaries or dependents) upon termination, and the
Executive is entitled to participate to the same extent that and in the same
manner in which other senior officers of the Company are entitled to or
participate in such benefits.
(i) The parties recognize that certain incentive plan
awards may be paid to the Executive in restricted stock of the Company, and
that the terms of the restricted stock may include forfeiture if the Executive
leaves the Company during the restriction period. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement, any such incentive plan or any such stock
restrictions to the contrary, Executive shall not forfeit any incentive plan
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awards which are paid in restricted stock of the Company if the Company
terminates Executive's employment during the restriction period; unless
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Executive's employment is terminated under Section 12 (b), in which case all
restricted stock shall be forfeited as of the date of termination. Moreover,
if the Employee terminates his employment during the initial 36-month term
hereof for any reason, then he shall forfeit all restricted stock as of the
date of termination.
Section 13. Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall reimburse to
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the Executive all expenses reasonably and properly incurred by the Executive
in the performance of the Executive's duties under this Agreement. Such
reimbursement shall be made within thirty (30) days of the submission by the
Executive to the Company, of appropriate evidence of such expenditure.
Section 14. Relationship to Prior Employment Arrangements. This
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Agreement shall supersede and take the place of any and all prior employment
agreements, whether oral or written, between the Company and the Executive.
Section 15. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given
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under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing
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and if hand-delivered or sent by certified or registered mail to the residence
address of the Executive then on file with the Company or to the principal
office of the Company.
Section 16. Benefit. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
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be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. Obligations of
the Executive hereunder may not be delegated, assigned or otherwise
transferred without the prior written consent of the Company.
Section 17. Waiver. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any
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of the terms, covenants or conditions hereof shall not be deemed a waiver of
any such term, covenant or condition, nor shall any such failure at any one
time or times be deemed a waiver or relinquishment at any other time or times
of any right under the terms, covenants or conditions hereof.
Section 18. Modifications and Amendments. No modification or
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amendment hereof shall be effective unless and until the same shall be in a
writing, duly executed by both parties hereto.
Section 19. Headings. The headings of the various items of this
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Agreement have been inserted for convenience only, and interpretations hereof
shall be based strictly upon the text without reference to such headings.
Section 20. Applicable Law and Forum. This Agreement shall be
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governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of Ohio. ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN RESPECT OF OR ARISING OUT OF
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE PROSECUTED AS
TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE PARTIES HERETO AT CINCINNATI, OHIO. EACH PARTY
HERETO JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO THE EXERCISE OF
JURISDICTION OVER HIS OR ITS PERSON BY ANY COURT SITUATED AT CINCINNATI, OHIO
AND HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING IN
ANY SUCH COURT SHALL CONCLUSIVELY BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ANY ONE OR
MORE OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGAINST WHOM THE SAME IS INSTITUTED IF GIVEN TO
SUCH PERSON IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT OR BY ANY
OTHER MANNER CONSISTENT WITH DUE PROCESS OF LAW.
Section 21. Duplicate Originals. This Agreement may be executed in
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one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be a duplicate
original, but all of which taken together, shall be deemed to constitute a
single instrument.
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Section 22. Pronouns. The number and gender of each pronoun used in
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this Agreement, if any, shall be construed to mean each such number and gender
as the context, circumstances or its antecedent may require.
Section 23. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including each Exhibit
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hereto) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto in respect
of the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior and
contemporaneous agreements between the parties hereto in connection with the
subject matter of this Agreement.
Section 24. Effective Date. This Employment Agreement shall be
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effective immediately upon the closing of the transactions contemplated by the
Asset Purchase Agreement dated September 14, 1998, by and among the Company
and Great American Insurance Company, among others (the date of such closing
herein referred to as the "Effective Date"). If this closing shall not occur,
then this Employment Agreement shall not have become effective for any
purposes whatsoever, shall create no rights or liabilities in either party
hereto, and shall be deemed to be null and void in all respects.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Employment Agreement has been duly executed on
behalf of the Company and by the Executive, to be effective as of the
Effective Date.
THE OHIO CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
WITNESSES:
By
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Xxxxxx X. Patch
President and Chief Executive
Officer
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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EXHIBIT A
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THE OHIO CASUALTY GROUP
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ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES
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COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR THE SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
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EXHIBIT B
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[Attach booklet entitled
"Your Benefits At Ohio Casualty"]
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EXHIBIT C
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Current benefits provided to the Company's Senior Officers:
a. ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT COVERAGE - $500,000
b. AIR TRAVEL - As a senior officer, you may fly first class.
c. MEMBERSHIPS - Company paid memberships to the Xxxxxxxx
City Club and the Metropolitan Club or the Bankers Club.
d. COMPANY CAR PROGRAM - All officers receive a company car.
Personal mileage is taxable. As a senior officer, you will be
eligible for an upgrade from the basic program to an automobile
of your choice with costs excess of the basic program, being
payroll deducted over 2, 3 or 4 years. You may trade in your
vehicle when either your loan obligation is fulfilled or at
60,000 miles. At the time of trade in, any outstanding loan
balance shall be due.
e. EXECUTIVE HEALTH PHYSICAL - You are entitled under our 1998
plan to a benefit valued at $710.
f. EXECUTIVE FINANCIAL PLANNING - Maximum reimbursable expense is
$2,250 per calendar year. Additional $1,000 paid two years
prior to retirement, year of retirement, and for two years after
retirement.
g. OFFICE AND OFFICE FURNITURE - Officers are entitled to an
office and appropriate wood furniture.
h. PARKING SPACE - Home Office, immediate eligibility for a
parking space.
i. VACATION - Four weeks. One week may be used as your "Florida
Trip".
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